#cake: Going 'Banana's' for Beatons Bakes!

Banana and Coffee Cake wins award!

Have you heard about the Great Taste Awards?

Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, is the acknowledged benchmark for fine food and drink. It has been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the food world and the ‘epicurean equivalent of the Booker prize’. Quite simply the Great Taste logo is the sign you can trust when buying food and drink in your local, quality retailer.

In 2017 over 500 judges, including specially trained food critics, came together at 62 judging days from March through to early July. The judges, from all corners of the food world, blind-taste in teams of 3 or 4 ensuring we get a balance of expertise, age and gender. The judges look for truly great taste. They take into account the texture, appearance and of course quality ingredients; and they like a good aroma. But everything comes back to the taste. Is it really, truly great?

We happen to think that our cakes are truly delicious and our customers agree with us too! After a lot of deliberation we decided to enter our Gluten Free Banana and Coffee Cake, after what seemed like an unbearably long wait we finally heard back...drum roll please! We are now the proud receivers of a Great taste award!

Have you tested this particular home-baked cake at Beatons? Well, it’s comes highly recommended!

#behindthescenes: M is for… Menus and Market Research

Menus and market research go hand in hand here at Beatons. Hopefully they create that ‘Mmm…’ which means delicious!  We thought we’d give you a bit of insight as to what and who’s behind our menus this month.

Did you know they change throughout the day?  Through breakfast, lunch and Afternoon Tea! And, of course, there are special menus if you’re indulging in one of our full Afternoon Teas or have special dietary preferences (our Elegant Options menu has been created just for you).

The brains (and sometimes the brawn when it comes to mixing quantities of scone dough or preparing meat) is Ben.
Ben – our highly trained chef who loves the challenge of producing hot and cold canapés for a hundred at our launch soirées – is at the heart of menu selection and creation. But he draws on ideas from outside and within the tearooms. Some of them from you!

You’re always welcome to add suggestions and comments at the bottom of our feedback cards (if you’re not given one you’ll find them at the counter). We read every one and suggestions get fed back to Ben ready for when he considers the next set of seasonal changes.

Our central team also contribute, as well as our growing number of Franchisees.
And, naturally, all the ‘Beatons Central’ team – Ben in particular - are on the look-out for new developments and inspiration externally. If Ben thinks he’s found something, he’ll then apply his creativity to give the dish a dash of Beatons’ originality.  After that? It’s trialling, recipe writing, and testing, testing, testing! 

Finally, the bit I occasionally get involved in. Word play! Often its Zoe who comes up with an elegant yet pertinent name, ready to add it to the menus.

Our tea choice, too, is updated on a regular basis. One of our newest additions, The Duchess *– an extremely refreshing twist (lemon) on Earl Grey – has just been chosen by one of our newest franchisees, Fifi, as her house tea.   We’ll be helping her launch Beatons Petersfield – our first Hampshire tearooms – in October.  
Why not enjoy a pot of ‘The Duchess’ (best without milk) as you take a more informed glance at our menu today?!
*’Dried lemon peels and orange pieces add a citrus twist to the traditional Earl Grey Tea making it a fantastic alternative to savour and enjoy. High quality tea is used providing a wonderful piquant flavour that when combined with a quality bergamot oil and citrus flavours has a full bodied finish. Beautifully refreshing and certainly one we think the Duchess would have approved of. ‘

#Petersfield: what Fifi loves about it

Hello 

I’m Farnaz Zahedfar – a bit of a mouthful – so people call me Fifi.  I’m Beatons ‘franchisee-in-waiting’ for Petersfield. This is my first blog post charting the journey towards delivering Beatons’ brand of ‘gracious hospitality’ to East Hampshire.

Although I’m not yet local, me and my fiancé – like many in Petersfield’s history – are moving down from London. We can’t wait and have already done lots of exploring. Consequently, this blog is more about what we love about Petersfield rather than about Beatons [although you’ll find plenty to feast your eyes on elsewhere on this site]. And I hope it will encourage even more visitors… because Petersfield is charming.

Starting with the arts - since I’m a great fan - it’s great to find this thriving market town has its own ‘Festival Hall’ for entertainment. And the intriguingly named ‘Shady-Jane Youth Theatre' sounds interesting. It’s also got an orchestra, other performing arts groups and loads of societies.

But arts for Petersfield is especially about artists and writers - including Jane Austen and Gilbert White.  Talking of which, Beatons always includes a shelf of books for sale by local authors. Let me know if we should stock your book! There’s the flourishing Petersfield Arts and Crafts Society (PACS) about which a bit more in a future blog. And Petersfield was home to talented artist (and bookshop owner) Flora Twort. I haven’t got to the Flora Twort Gallery yet, but I will – and to The Petersfield Museum, Jane Austen’s House Museum and the stunning mansion of Uppark.

Petersfield's Physic Garden

A real hidden treasure!

There are famous poets connected to the town too. Although I’m not very well versed, Beatons includes poetry as part of its brand. Steep (a steep hill away) was home to War Poet, Edward Thomas, whose centenary year is being marked. A brilliant mix of art combining lines of his poetry has been on exhibition at Petersfield’s other amazing hidden treasure – The Physic Garden.

You can see from the photo, it’s beautiful. And it’s FREE! In its planting and emblem (a rare orchid), it celebrates botanist Charles Goodyear and was inspired by Chelsea Physic Garden in London. Goodyear had a Georgian house in the 17^th century located in ‘The Spain’ a quiet architectural oasis behind St Peter’s Church. It was named after the Spanish wool merchants who used it as their ‘resort’ when they came over to trade!

The Heath - credit Chris O'Brien

As I’ve talked to a few people – including Zoe at Beatons who has family here – one place keeps being mentioned: The Heath. The Heath is a stunning area of countryside, with a famous ‘pond’ known as ‘the lake’ (you can boat on it!)  And most importantly are the early bronze age barrows which have been discovered. Petersfield certainly has a long history and The Heath is considered its crowning jewel.

Yes, there are also lots of independent cafes and restaurants – and we like that. Why? Because although Beatons is a group, each tearooms operates as an independent entity. And we believe competition is good, and that there’s plenty enough business in Petersfield for us all to flourish… No doubt we and the shop-fitters will be frequenting our nearest eateries before we open. [And possibly entertaining the curious ones once we do!] We hope to be based at the Dragon Street end of the High Street.

As for other activities and shops? There seems to be a huge cycling community, and a lovely project run by the Council called Walking for Health. That’s free too – you can walk from Winton House at 10 am on a Wednesday.  Fancy a swim? Petersfield has the only outdoor heated swimming pool in Hampshire!

And Petersfield boasts two famous schools. Churcher’s College – set up by Richard Churcher from the East India Company (I wonder if they drank tea?!)  and Bedales which has Lily Allen, Kirstie Allsop, Gyles Brandreth and Alan Jay Lerner as alumni.

Lavant Street, appears to house an incredible number of treasures – with Morgan-Owen & Coates Optometrists having a history going back to 1928, so I know where to go for my sight test and there’s almost every kind of therapist to ensure longevity and wellbeing!

The quaint Old Forge

As a woman who loves clothes, it’s good to see boutiques like Willow, Plumage and Your Little Secret Bridal Boutique. And maybe before all my time is taken up serving Petersfield residents afternoon tea, I’ll get a chance to visit beauty salon, Time to be Me or one of the award-winning hair stylists. Naturally, there are many, many more gift, antique and quirky shops tucked into courtyards and quaint side-streets too – all only a train-ride away from Waterloo! The best place to discover everything you need to know – these are my first impressions –  is www.visitpetersfield.com

My last mention must be the public library which is thriving despite cuts and houses a wonderful book, ‘A Celebration of Petersfield’ which pays homage not just to its history but to its commerce and industrious inhabitants.

I look forward to becoming one in the very near future!

Posted by Fifi, Beatons Petersfield

P.S. If you’d like to know when we start recruiting, please send me an e-mail – to fifi@beatonstearooms.co.uk - and I’ll send you a link to the details when they’re posted.

P.P.S. And here's a virtual taster for Petersfield chocolate lovers!

#Petersfield - Announcing a New Beatons Tearooms Location

We're delighted to release the first verse of 'The Petersfield Rubai' (a rubai is a Persian poetic form) by House Poet and best-selling author Liz Darcy Jones.

This honours the town and nods its head to the Persian inscription on the sundial in the Physic Garden, and the education our franchisee, Fifi, enjoyed in Tehran as child!

Beatons Petersfield Rubai

Yes, I remember Petersfield of old

Its buried treasure glowing bronze, not gold

A stopping place for merchants trading wool

To rest in Georgian houses, so I'm told

The rest of the poem will be released just prior to opening, although Liz can be persuaded to recite it on air if invited!

Our Press Release follows:

Poetic Praise for Petersfield as Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop is Confirmed

Despite initial concerns locally, approval has been given for the next Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop to make its home in the former jewellers and estate agents at 30, High Street, Petersfield.  Both Petersfield franchise owner Fifi Zahedfar and Beatons’ house poet, Liz Darcy Jones, have been enchanted by Petersfield’s literary and arts heritage and active community. The best-selling author has crafted some jaunty verse in honour of the town to reflect this, including referring to the ancient bronze burial barrows and Jane Austen. 

All Beatons Tearooms – their name and interiors are inspired by the elegance of royal photographer and costume designer Sir Cecil Beaton – deliver a stylish take on quintessential afternoon tea. Beatons Petersfield will provide full table service, offering over thirty loose leaf teas, regional coffee blends, home-made cakes and light food served in bespoke Villeroy and Boch china as well as a carefully curated selection of books for sale. The tearooms is set to launch in the late Autumn.

Distinguishing itself from others, Beatons incorporate poetry into their brand and host both local author book signings and poetry events, although it was the group’s ethos of integrity, community involvement and delivery of exceptional service which particularly appealed to Fifi. ‘Beatons is so much more than a combined tearooms and bookshop – it’s a place filled with warmth and passion, which cheers you up instantly.’

Fifi was originally from Tehran but has been living in London for the past twenty years. Having spent the last decade working in finance she has long dreamed of running her own business. Having always been a tea-lover - in Tehran tea is served in preference to coffee – becoming a Beatons franchisee was the perfect choice to be able to ‘create a tearooms with a real touch of style’. She can’t wait to move to Petersfield.

Founder and CEO of the group, Patrick Duffy, said ‘with a beautiful twin gabled location and Fifi’s determination to create an environment with gracious hospitality at its heart, I believe Beatons Petersfield will be an elegant addition to what is clearly a thriving town.’

‘Tea Poet’ and writer, Darcy Jones – who has fond memories of Petersfield from years commuting from Havant to the City – spent a day incognito in the town. She spoke to over twenty local passers-by and traders asking for three words which meant ‘Petersfield’ to them. The word ‘friendly’ came up eighteen times! She was also thrilled to discover Petersfield Physic Garden hosting ‘Inspired by the Word’, an exhibition by contemporary artists celebrating the literature of Hampshire writers, Jane Austen, Edward Thomas and Gilbert White.  

Further details of launch activities including a local charity Open House event will be announced in due course.

For further information on opening date and details visit www.beatonstearooms.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Interviews and features welcomed. Contact:

Patrick Duffy on 07787 419236                 or patrick@beatonstearooms.co.uk

Zoe Moxham on 01747 871819                or zoe@beatonstearooms.co.uk

Liz Darcy Jones on 07940 584752            or liz@lizdarcyjones.com

#tea: Which is the Mr Smooth of Teas?

What is it? Lemon Rooibos

Our Mr Smooth of the tea menu!

Zesty Lemon Rooibos is a herbal tea (meaning it's caffeine free) with key elements being the finest Rooibos and lemon. Invigorating yet sweet, Zesty Lemon Rooibos has the silkiness of red bush and the citrus kick of lemons.
Rooibos comes from the Aspalathus linearis plant growing in South Africa so it isn't actually a tea. It's probably called red bush tea on account of its striking colour when brewed - see the rich red when it pours!

Rooibos (pronounced 'Roy-ee-boss') helps you chill - it's reputed to help with insomnia.  Health wise, being low in tannins means it's one for asthma and eczema sufferers, and contains the rare antioxidant aspalathin boosting insulin secretion to ward off Diabetes type II! 

Great hot or iced, its flavour marries particularly well with nuts. Why not add a slice of  our gluten and dairy-free Orange & Almond and  Apple & Almond Cakes to accompany it? 

#beatonstearooms: New Tisbury HQ

New Central Office

We thought that you may like a sneak peak inside our lovely new office in Tisbury.

We have been busy behind the scenes creating an environment for our central team to get creative and productive as Beatons Tearooms Ltd grows as a company.

We are delighted with the result and now proud of our very ‘Beatons Pink’ central meeting place and office where we are confident our future projects will prove to be successful!

#behindthescenes: L is for… ‘Loverly’

Loverly? I’m hoping the word conjures up images of cockney-learning-to-be-posh Eliza Doolittle rather than poor spelling! Recall her singing a gorgeous refrain from the musical ‘My Fair Lady’?

‘All I want is a room somewhere
Far away from the cold night air
With one enormous chair
Oh, wouldn’t it be loverly’

My Fair Lady, Lerner and Loewe’s timeless show, has a special place in our hearts here. Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) who inspires our name - and a lot more besides - created the iconic set and costumes for the 1956 Broadway production. You may have watched My Fair Lady as a film, or seen a local amateur dramatic society produce it. Nearer to you where you’re sitting, listen carefully to our music selection and you may hear some of the fabulous tracks playing in the background.

‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly’ and ‘The Ascot Gavotte’ – a jaunty trot of piece – have extra relevance to us. And, surprisingly, the latter may mean more to you by the end of this feature if you’re looking to improve your brain function and co-ordination (Aren’t we all? Ed)!

As you may know - returning to Cecil Beaton and My Fair Lady - our interiors nod their head to the quintessential elegance of both. Take a pause and look round the tearooms.  You’ll see that we have at least ‘one enormous chair’ for today’s Eliza’s and Professor Higgins to relax in, furnished in a Beaton floral fabric. And, of course, the walls showcase classic reproductions of Beaton’s most famous photographs.  Want to learn more? We have the best biographies about Beaton on our bookshelves.

But how does The Ascot Gavotte help us improve our brain function? And how could it help you or your children? Think driving tests or finals!

Well, we’ve just started using The Ascot Gavotte in our new franchisee training sessions. We also suspect some of our team members may start employ this tip on occasions too! We kick off by walking an ‘infinity walk’ – a figure of eight – to a piece of music which plays at one beat per second.

Guess what? The Ascot Gavotte happens to have exactly the right timing. It’s able to create what is commonly known as The Mozart Effect which prompts optimum learning receptivity in the brain.  Walking an infinity walk has similar, and additional benefits, including improving hand to eye co-ordination, and connecting the left and right brain (just what you need before learning, taking an exam or embarking on some Beatons franchisee training). It was developed in the 1980’s – along with other walks for wellbeing – by clinical psychologist Deborah Sunbeck. I’ve used infinity walks successfully for twenty years and so I know it works.

It’s also great fun! It adds to the ways we can maximise attentiveness which we believe is vital to operating a successful Beatons. In fact, we’d say it’s vital to life in general.

Whether you’re an ‘Eliza’, a ‘Professor Higgins’ or a mum preparing her teenagers for University, you’re always welcome here. Why not treat yourself to ‘The Ashcombe’, our Beaton inspired Afternoon Tea (Beaton’s house was called ‘Ashcombe’)?

You’ll find it’s ‘loverly’!

Liz Darcy Jones